As I grew up, I started gaining interest in how I could manipulate this cyberspace that’s available in the real world, so I picked a career that I knew was right for me. Download and install the Tor Browser from the official Tor Project website. For iOS, you’ll need to go through the Onion Browser site. However, if you purchase anything illegal, be warned that the authorities can trace most transactions. It’s easier and – so long as you practice good cyber hygiene and never enter any personal information in the Tor Browser – safer.
These websites may look similar to any other surface or deep website you’d encounter. Illegal serviceslike people claiming to be able to fix credit scores for a fee. They may also be law enforcement masquerading as criminals in an attempt to catch people who are up to no good.
Getting On The Dark Web
Use it to get an idea of what sort of dark websites you may be interested in visiting. But before visiting any sites on the dark web, get comprehensive cybersecurity software to protect yourself from any threats you may encounter. Surface web search engines can’t access the dark web, but specialized dark web search engines can help you find what you’re looking for. DuckDuckGo is a popular privacy-focused search engine that doesn’t track you across the web when you use it.
- Again, we can’t emphasize enough that security and anonymity are paramount to those on dark websites.
- Cybercriminals and other malicious actors rely heavily on the capabilities of the Dark Web in various unlawful ways.
- Attackers can use tools like keyloggers to gather your data, and they can infiltrate your system on any part of the web.
- For speed and security, we recommend our sponsor ExpressVPN.
- As above, make sure you’re only visiting .onion sites you trust and don’t share any personal information.
In addition, many of us rely on the web for work and entertainment, and seeking out information through search engines is customary. As a general rule, you should always use a VPN and only use Tor when you need to. A VPN protects your privacy without making it hard for you to browse the web and use the internet as you normally would. Choose Tor when you need to stay anonymous or want to get to the dark web. Others, such as people who have been cyberstalked or are concerned about the security of online banking, may use it to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of crime.
Cocorico Link
This would give them insights into yet-unknown vulnerabilities and allow them to gain knowledge of exploits before they can turn into widespread cyber threats. Also, you can use the TOR browser for the clear web sites just to increase your privacy protection. It helps you avoid risky websites known for malware infection, and blocks trackers and intrusive ads. Be aware that, since 2008 when access to the Tor browser was made available to everyone, there has been a noticeable growth in criminal behavior on the dark web.
Learn how to find out if you’ve been compromised in this step-by-step guide to accessing the underbelly of the internet. The deep web has a reputation for shady activity, but it’s also a place for whistleblowing, bitcoin exchanges, and political discussion away from the glare of the public internet. It’s changed a lot in recent years as security agencies have become more aware of its presence, and it will continue to evolve in the future. Most of the bad reputation the deep and dark webs get is due to media sensationalism highlighting the illegal sites. However, there are illegal sites and content on the dark web, like child pornography and black markets, and partaking in those sites/content is illegal no matter your reason. The best dark web search engine is DuckDuckGoOnion – though this only offers surface web results.
Use safety and privacy-enhancing apps
For those who may be a little faint of heart – we have listed down more than 160 updated Tor websites for you. However, Tor is not the only browser you can use to access the Dark Web. With the right configuration and setup, we can also use Firefox, Opera, or Whonix to access the Dark Web.
Infamous criminal sites live there, but so do popular, well-known sites and brands. Perhaps you’ve heard the infamous stories about Silk Road, the online marketplace used to sell illegal drugs with bitcoin behind the veil of the Tor browser. Launched in 2011, it is known to be one of the first online platforms of the dark web. Fear of malware infection is significantly higher in the lawless territory that is the dark web.
You can buy a wide range of legal goods and services on dark web marketplaces. There are also some illegal things for sale, as detailed in the Dark Web Price Index 2021. When making purchases on the dark web, protect yourself by using anonymized account information and cryptocurrency whenever possible. The dark part of the dark web refers to its hidden configurations within the darknet, its emphasis on anonymity, and the private activity that happens there. The deep part of the deep web simply refers to the fact that you need passwords or other authentication to unlock it. This is the main way that search engines become aware of a certain website or web page, and is generally how sites like Google add web pages to their index.
Some people use the terms ‘dark web’ and ‘deep web’ interchangeably; however, significant portions of the deep web are completely legal and safe to use. Access to dark web content is restricted with the help of virtual traffic tunnels through randomized network architecture. Very few regular users will ever interact with the dark web. Some estimates mark the extent of the dark web as being much smaller than that of the surface web . However, it is challenging to measure how widespread the dark web is due to its decentralized and obscure nature.
